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Abstract #8200 Published in IGR 4-3
Driving performance in patients with mild to moderate glaucomatous clinical vision changes
Szlyk JP; Taglia DP; Paliga J; Edward DP; Wilensky JTJournal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 2002; 39: 467-481
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between clinical measures of visual function and driving-related skills in patients with glaucoma who had good visual acuity in at least one eye and mild to moderate visual field loss. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with glaucoma and 29 age-equivalent normally-sighted control subjects were included in the study. The authors tested each patient on an interactive driving simulator and collected vision data, including Lighthouse visual acuity, Goldmann and Humphrey visual fields, and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity. Information about real-world accident history for the previous five-year period was obtained. RESULTS: The glaucoma patients did not have significantly more simulator or real-world accidents than the normally-sighted group. There were no significant differences between the groups in performance on seven of the eight simulator indexes that were measured. Of the clinical visual function measures, only lower contrast sensitivity in the eye with better contrast sensitivity correlated with driving skills, including slower speeds (r(24) = 0.58, p ≤ 0.01), more lane boundary crossings (r(24) = -0.54, p ≤ 0.01), and longer braking response times (r(24) = -0.60, p ≤ 0.01) for the patient group. CONCLUSION: Reduced contrast sensitivity may be important in indicating the level of driving skills for individuals with glaucoma, who have normal or near-normal visual acuity and mild to moderate visual field loss.
J.P. Szlyk, MD, Chicago VA Health Care System, West Side Division, M/C 151, 820 South Damen Avenue, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. janeszly@uic.edu
Classification:
1.4 Quality of life (Part of: 1 General aspects)
6.6.3 Special methods (e.g. color, contrast, SWAP etc.) (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods > 6.6 Visual field examination and other visual function tests)
